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Which floor can also survive flooding?

Have you ever experienced flooding or a crack in your radiator that left your entire room washed out? It’s an unpleasant situation but in outfitting your home it’s something you need to expect. If you choose the right flooring that isn’t damaged by water, you will save yourself money and worries in the event of an accident. And we are not talking about other nuisances like mold flourishing in dampness.

If you live in a region that often endures flooding, then you probably already have experience with a deluge across your floor. Of course, water is a potential threat for you no matter where you live. For example, there can be an accident in the water main that leaves your garage flooded. In some cases, it’s enough to let it simply dry out, but if your flooring is unsuitable, you’ll have to change all of it. How to prevent this from happening?

Epoxy is the cheapest protection

The cheapest way how to stay ahead of water is with epoxy coatings. Although they have many other disadvantages (such as becoming stained from oil and various chemicals), they cope with water quite well. They are ordinarily used, for example, in showers and bathrooms. One nuisance is mold, which thrives in a damp environment and cannot be avoided even with epoxy. Another problem can also be bottom water, which can press through a thin epoxy layer and create lumps or holes in it.

If you want your epoxy coating to be waterproof, choose a manufacturer that guarantees it. As a rule, you will have to apply two to three coatings, where the bottom one is sucked into the concrete and seals it so that no great amount of water is absorbed. In the event of flooding, however, the floor will need some time to dry out. The effect of high temperatures causes epoxy to become brittle and lose its original qualities, so the use of dryers is not recommended. You can let the floor dry out naturally, which can take a long time, or you can use circulating air – dry air is pumped in and moist air sucked out. This process takes about two weeks.

Ceramic tiles are easily cleaned

When people who live in areas affected by flooding renovate their floors, they often go for ceramic tiles. This type of flooring is also commonly used in bathrooms; water doesn’t bother it. Another advantage is it’s easy to maintain. Flooding means not just water everywhere, but also mud. Ceramic floor tiles can be easily washed.

The problem here is with drying out the substrate. A tile that cannot be removed slows that process down. It will take a while for the concrete hidden under these tiles to dry out. Sometimes mold will occur if dampness persists for a long time in the room. The only solution then is a complete renovation of the entire floor.

Hardwood floors you always need to take apart

Hardwood floors look great, but too much water is too much. With wet wooden floors, it’s practically clear that rotting mildew will soon appear. The only possible solution is to take the floor apart to allow the substrate underneath it to dry out for several weeks.

Depending on the length of the flooding, sometimes you only have to replace a part of the floor, sometimes a total renovation is necessary. Of course, it’s possible to lay the original floor again once it’s sufficiently dried.

You can take apart PVC and put it back together again

PVC flooring is a great relief here, such as Fortelock Light PVC floor tiles, which are not attached to the surface. The floating type of floor covering can be completely disassembled without any problems. No damage occurs when removing it, and it’s simply installed again once the room has dried out, therefore saving you lots of time and worries when arranging your new floor. They’re often used in garages, basements, workshops or in industrial spaces.

Unlike wood, PVC floor tiles can be properly washed with water, which will get rid of dirt and mud. Read about cleaning other types of floor coverings. In addition, Fortelock has a unique system of drainage channels that reduces dampness. So you don’t have to worry about mold. The picture shows the details of the Air Flow system, which ensures the floor stays dry.

Water can hurt everyone

If you think that water problems don’t affect you at all, you are mistaken. The situations where water can create serious problems are truly countless. The floor heating can burst, it can rain a lot, floods or other accidents at your home. In these cases you will have lots of other worries, so having a reliable floor can make your life a little easier.